The last time the Yankees came to PNC Park -- July 10, 2008 -- their shortstop was Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez played third base, CC Sabathia was a Brewer and Tyler Glasnow was 14 years old.

The Yankees will return to Pittsburgh on Friday to begin a three-game weekend series against the Bucs, their first regular-season meeting since May 2014, and the veteran Sabathia will square off with top prospect Glasnow in the opener.

Sabathia is off to an outstanding start, carrying a 2-0 record and a 1.47 ERA into his fourth outing of the year. The 36-year-old left-hander has put together back-to-back quality starts. Last time out, Sabathia shut down the Cardinals with a 7 1/3-inning, one-run performance, part of an excellent 8-1 homestand for the Bombers.

"I think you just take the confidence that we're playing well," Chase Headley said Wednesday. "We've got a day off, so we'll try to enjoy it and just be confident in the way we're playing. If we go out and play the way we're capable of, obviously we can win games."

After an ugly season debut, Glasnow had a rough first inning against the Cubs on Saturday at Wrigley Field. But manager Clint Hurdle said Glasnow looked like a "different cat from that point on," and Glasnow settled in to pitch four more innings.

"There were a lot of positive building blocks," Hurdle said. "The last four innings, that's a Major League pitcher out there. … That's what he's got to hold on to and work with moving forward."

Three things to know about this game

• David Freese is the only Pirates hitter who has faced Sabathia in his career -- and their history is limited to six plate appearances, one hit and two walks. Glasnow has only lined up in the Majors against one Yankee: former Cardinal Matt Holliday, who is 0-for-2 with a walk against the young right-hander.

• Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli, the former Yankee, is batting just .234/.308/.447 this season, but he may be due for better results. Cervelli has posted an average exit velocity of 89.1 mph this year, up from 86.6 mph last season. Cervelli is also hitting more fly balls; they've accounted for 35.9 percent of his balls in play this year, compared to 24.1 percent last season.

• Adam Frazier could be back in the lineup Friday. The super-utility man has started at six different positions in his first 10 starts this season: left field, designated hitter, second base, third base, shortstop and right field. Frazier figures to see more time in right while Starling Marte is suspended and Andrew McCutchen is playing center.